ENVIRONMENTAL groups opposed to a tidal energy barrage in the Severn have called for an independent study to see what impact the project would have on the estuary.

ENVIRONMENTAL groups opposed to a tidal energy barrage in the Severn have called for an independent study to see what impact the project would have on the estuary.

A group of environmental and angling non-governmental organisations (NGOs) met former Welsh Secretary Peter Hain to raise their concerns about the impact of a barrage.

Mr Hain told the Western Mail that the consortium behind the barrage had agreed to share information with the NGOs about the barrage design.

The Severn Estuary is one of the largest estuaries in Europe and is of international importance for its wildlife, supporting more than 69,000 wintering birds and more than 100 species of fish including migratory salmon and eels.

In 2010 a Government study concluded a conventional ‘high head’ barrage could lead to the local extinction of some species of fish and an increase in flood risk over an area of 370 square kilometres containing 45,000 residential properties.

Supporters of a new proposal for a ‘low head’ barrage claim that their development would be less damaging, but the NGOs say that so far there is insufficient information to assess whether this is true.

They have set out a series of “key challenges” for Mr Hain and leaders of the consortium which is developing the plans, in order to address the potential impacts of their proposals.

They stressed it is “imperative” the barrage consortium seeks “independent, peer-reviewed assessments” of the nature and scale of the impacts, in particular on the fish species that live in and pass through the estuary, and on the geomorphology of the estuary which will dictate how habitats, birds and flood risk would be affected by the proposal.

In a statement the NGOs said they recognise there is “an urgent need to tackle climate change and that renewable electricity generation is a vital part of the solution.

“However, inappropriately designed or located renewable energy developments can cause serious and irreparable harm to wildlife.” Dr Deborah Pain, conservation director for the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, said: “WWT supports the search for appropriate use of tidal energy in the Severn Estuary, but it is a delicately balanced environment where ill-thought through schemes could be damaging to wildlife, homes and businesses if we get it wrong.

“We are concerned that this proposal still isn’t right, and have certainly not yet seen enough evidence to suggest otherwise.

“We urge the Government to stick to the findings of the Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study, and Peter Hain to work with all the interested groups to produce the power we need while minimising damage to the environment we live in.”

Mark Lloyd, chief executive of the Angling Trust said: “The proposed barrage could block safe access for salmon, shad and eels to rivers such as the Severn, Wye and Usk and it could cause major impacts on the countless marine fish that feed and breed in the estuary.

“Any significant increased mortality of these species would have a major impact on recreational angling and commercial fishing.

“We cannot consider whether to support any proposal in the Severn until robust and peer-reviewed science has been produced to quantify the impact on fish.”

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